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Memorial scholarship for international students created for Ammar Al Fayiz at Idaho State University

June, 14, 2017

POCATELLO- Idaho State University has created a memorial scholarship for former ISU College of Technology student, Ammar Al Fayiz who died of cancer in 2015.

Ammar Al Fayiz

The scholarship is to be awarded to an international student at ISU. A crowd-funding page has been set up as well to support raising funds for the scholarship.

Fayiz, who was in the ISU Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC) program, grew up in Saudi Arabia and was raised by hard working, supportive parents. He followed in their footsteps, receiving his first degree from the College of Technology at Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in 2003.

After working for eight years as an inspector and crew leader for Modern Industries Company/Proctor and Gamble, he decided to come to the United States in 2012 to further his education at his own cost until he could receive a scholarship from the Saudi government.

After studying English in Dallas, Texas, Ammar was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the next year receiving treatments and continuing his studies in English before he was accepted into the ESTEC program at ISU.

“Ammar was a fine young man, a good and caring husband, proud father, and an extraordinary student,” said Lawrence H. Beaty, former ESTEC executive director. “Establishing a scholarship to recognize and honor the memory of such an outstanding man who saw education as a path to prepare him to improve the lives of others is very fitting and I unequivocally support the idea.”

The scholarship will be awarded to international student who demonstrate qualities of hard work, a passion for learning and community service.

“People like Ammar Al Fayiz do not come around very often in life,” said Mike Fort, ESTEC coordinator and instructor. “When they do, they should be cherished, and when they leave, they should be remembered. It was an honor to know Ammar, to work with Ammar and to call Ammar my friend.”

For more information about Ammar and this scholarship fund, and to make a donation, go to https://supportisu.org/campaigns/honor-ammar. Or you may contact Jesse Kiboko at kibojess@isu.edu or (208) 282-2963 for more information.